PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – A Port St. Lucie man was arrested in charged after a stolen vehicle he left abandoned on the train tracks was catapulted into a nearby home after being struck by a train.
Port. St. Luice Police say 38-year old Bradford Weitzel told Martin County Sheriff’s Detectives that he couldn’t find his car after leaving a Martin County bar early this morning, so he stole one in a good faith effort to locate his own.
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He said he somehow ended up on the train tracks along Indian River Drive.
“That’s when Weitzel claims the vehicle he stole suddenly stopped dead on the tracks as a train was coming. So he said he got out and ran, leaving the car on the tracks,” The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said. “Within seconds, the train hit the car, catapulting it into a nearby home where the homeowners were sound asleep.”
Fortunately, they were not physically injured, although the explosive sound of a driverless car smashing into the side of their home was clearly jolting. Meanwhile, Weitzel continued on to a nearby fruit stand, where he vandalized the business then tried to steal a forklift.
“In the end, Weitzel said he thought it was best to flag down the responding deputies to let them know he was still looking for his car,” the MCSO said.
Bradford Weitzel was arrested and charged with Grand Theft, and Criminal Mischief. Additional charges are expected.